Man at work in leprosy settlement, Sarawak

Feb. 26 A Sarawak leper spends his time during the cure at the Settlement in cutting firewood and putting it into bundles. Winning a War against Leprosy: The Scourge is a Scourge no longer wonder drugs guarantee cures for Sarawak's native population: New drug is being used at the Sir Charles Brooke Memorial Settlement, 13 miles from Kuching, taking away all terror of the disease which once meant social banishment for the afflicted. In the past 10 years, a transformation in diagnosis and treatment has taken place. No longer is the leper driven from home and village, getting food left by relatives at pre-arranged dumps. The wonder drug Avosulfon (Diaminodiphen sulphone) is taken in tablet or injection form. Early cases are cured in a year. So far 450 cases in the Settlement have been definitely cured. Discharged patients are presented with a vellum certificate by the Colony's governor, at a special passing out ceremony. This has the psychological effect and the material means of getting the former leper to be accepted once again in his village and tribal community. While at the Settlement, patients learn a trade, and products of their handicrafts are sold for their own benefit. The lepers are from mixed tribes, many of which have only recently been sworn enemies. Once in the Settlement, however, there is a universal brotherhood of the afflicted. They have their own orchestra, shops classes etc, and quite often the cured leper is loath to leave when his time is up

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Accepted Afflicted Arranged Avosulfon Banishment Brotherhood Bundles Cases Certificate Classes Colonys Cure Cured Cures Definitely Diagnosis Discharged Driven Drug Drugs Dumps Effect Enemies Firewood Guarantee Handicrafts However Injection Kuching Learn Leper Lepers Leprosy Loath Longer Means Meant Mixed Often Patients Psychological Quite Relatives Sarawak Sarawaks Scourge Spends Sworn Tablet Transformation Tribes Vellum

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